years

From its incorporation as Marriott in 1967 until this year ’ s plan to acquire Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide and reach more than 1 million hotel rooms , what is perhaps the biggest family name in the hotel business has been in the spotlight for almost the entirety of HOTELS ’ existence .

While we don ’ t have room to mention every major event in our 50-year history , this timeline represents many of the biggest moments since we began publishing in 1966 .

1971

Robert Kuok launches Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts in Hong Kong and opens first hotel , the Shangri-La Hotel Singapore .

1981

Bill Kimpton opens the 144-room Clarion Bedford Hotel in San Francisco , introducing the contemporary boutique concept to guests and the American hospitality industry .

1983

Marriott debuts lodging for business travelers with the first Courtyard hotel .

1970	1970	1980	1982	1983	1983
Trust Houses Group and Forte Holdings merge and become Trust Houses Forte .	Inn on the Park London , later renamed Four Seasons Hotel London , opens – considered the first upscale luxury hotel for Four Seasons .	The Jeddah Hilton opens as the largest hotel on the Arabian peninsula .	The opening of the Jianguo Hotel in Beijing marks China ’ s first joint venture hotel with an international hotel group , The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels Ltd .	Westin becomes the first big hotel company to offer reservations and checkout using major credit cards .	Masa ’ s by Masa Takayama at Bill Kimpton ’ s Hotel Vintage Court in San Francisco is among the first celebrity chef-helmed restaurants paired with a hotel .

September 2016 hotelsmag . com 15

HotelsMag September 2016 | Page 17

years

From its incorporation as Marriott in 1967 until this year ’ s plan to acquire Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide and reach more than 1 million hotel rooms , what is perhaps the biggest family name in the hotel business has been in the spotlight for almost the entirety of HOTELS ’ existence .